Plumbing Tips for Your Home in 2022

When it comes to our plumbing system, we homeowners have to be extra cautious and vigilant. Any minor plumbing issues like leaks or clogs, if left unattended, may lead to other problems in our plumbing, and sooner or later, the damage could go beyond repair. The thing is that a lot of major plumbing disasters occur because we fail to take immediate solutions to a minor leak or clog. Hence, taking action before the problem escalates and turns into a major one is a good way to protect your home's plumbing. Some of the procedures can even be done on our own without necessarily having a plumber over.

This 2022, plumbing experts have few words to say to homeowners, especially the newbies. We can say that in terms of addressing and figuring out plumbing problems, the skills and expertise of a professional plumber are outstanding. A plumbing expert can offer us the best advice on how we can properly take care of and maintain our home’s plumbing system. Since they possess the experience and tools necessary for detecting plumbing issues, they sure are the right individuals to listen to.

Nonetheless, homeowners should also be accountable for their household’s plumbing condition and need to acquire fundamental know-how about plumbing maintenance.

Tips to Keep Your Plumbing in Good Shape this New Year

With the weather growing colder along with some rains and substantial drop in temperature, our plumbing system becomes susceptible to potential malfunction and harm caused by inevitable environmental threats. Here are common ways and means that we can apply at home so that our plumbing fixtures and equipment remain in perfect functioning:

1. 
   

     Check your pipes.
   

   Your pipes are vital parts of your overall plumbing system. During this time of the year, you need to make sure your pipes are properly insulated and are not frozen. One of the ways to protect your pipes from freezing is by turning on your taps and letting them drip. This allows for consistent water flow through your pipeline, thereby relieving the pressure from your water system. Another method is to disconnect the hoses from your outdoor faucets to prevent any water residue from being frozen. Next is to open cabinet doors in your bathroom and kitchen sinks so that warm air can circulate inside the household. You can even use a fan, a portable heater, or a blow dryer in order to expel warm air to your pipes.

2. Locate your main water valve.
   

   Let's accept it: not all homeowners are aware of where their house's main water valve is located. Well, now is the right time to finally know the location of your main water valve. In case of burst pipes, leaks, and other plumbing disasters, you need to immediately find your main water valve and turn it off, in order to avoid further damage such as flooding. In addition, you have to make sure everyone else at home knows where the main water valve is. It goes a long way if every member of the household, and not just you, has knowledge regarding this matter so your plumbing system will be best protected.

3. Inspect your toilet’s flush valve seal for potential leaks.
   

   To prevent any plumbing issues from taking place in the future, toilet leaks have to be detected early on.  A cute simple trick most homeowners use nowadays is the food coloring technique. This should be very easy to do. You just have to pour several drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. Then wait for a few minutes to see if the tainted water from the tank flows into the toilet bowl. If it does, then you have a leak in your flush valve.

4. Careful what you flush down your toilet and drain.
   

   Never treat your drains and toilet bowl like a garbage can. These means don't throw any plastic wrappers, oil, vegetable, and fruit peelings, tissue, wipes, and hair into your plumbing fixtures. Otherwise, you have to deal with clogged drains or clogged toilets, which can be quite a headache. Garbage should dispose into the trash can and your sinks should always keep clean and free from build-ups. The best thing to avoid any blockage is by installing a basket strainer. So those harmful residues will be collected properly before they go down the drain.

Additionally, you have to keep an eye on your sump pump and your gutters. Check and clean your gutters for there might be leaves and debris accumulated in there. Also, make sure your sump is not frozen and is working well just in case a flood occurs during the rainy season.